Turn a Pair Baseball Podcast

Luisa's Mom signed her up for baseball at 12 because it was more convenient than softball. Baseball isn't very popular in Australia so her Mom didn't know the difference between the two.

The error proved to be a blessing. Luisa fell deeply in love with the game and has pushed well beyond the societal limits that have been placed on girls and woman in the game of baseball.

At 20 years old Luisa has made the roster at Green River College; not as a novelty but as a key member that will contribute to the overall success of the team. She lives baseball 24 hours a day. When she's away from the field, she's at Driveline where she works as the Baseball Technologies Coordinator. She gets to play with all the really cool data and technology offered at Driveline.

In our conversation she tells her incredible story, and shares tips to improve strength, bat speed and enhance arm care.

Twitter - @luisagauci

IG - luisagauic_

Derrik Watson grew up in Stl dreaming of one day playing basketball for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. He's a pro now, but baseball is his sport. He met Coach Cal, and he shares the pivotal moment in his life on this show.

Derrik has been grinding his way through baseball. After graduating from Hazelwood Central High School, he made his way to Southwest Illinois College and eventually Murray State. After 4 years in college the Colorado Rockies selected Derrik in the 25th round of the 2017 draft. His numbers have improved every year from his freshman year of college to now.

Baseball Reference:

Position: Relief Pitcher

Bats: Right • Throws: Right

6-2, 175lb (188cm, 79kg)

Team: Colorado Rockies (minors)

Born: August 21, 1994 (Age: 26-240d) in St. Louis, MO us

Draft: Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 25th round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft from Murray State University (Murray, KY).

School: Murray State University (Murray, KY)

Full Name: Derrik J. Watson

Twitter/IG:

@dwatson746_

Reagan grew up in a house full of athletes. His Mom, Dad and Sister all played sports at the collegiate level. Competition is fierce in the Todd household. Family card nights got intense during the Covid lockdown.

Reagan fell in line with the family tradition of playing a sport in college. After walking off the High School state semi finals game with a grand slam, he went off to Arizona State. He eventually made his way to Colorado Mesa University before being drafted in the 32nd round of the 2018 draft by his hometown Rockies. He's working his way up the system as a high leverage asset out of the bullpen.

When he's not making life difficult for MiLB hitters, he's running his own business; a recruiting service for potential college athletes. We talk all about his venture in the episode. Check out his business (www.toddurichrecruiting.com)

Reagan is the 4th graduate of Regis Jesuit High School out of Aurora, Colorado to join the show.

Twitter - @ReaTodd

IG - reagan_todd13

Baseball Reference:

Positions: Pitcher and Rightfielder

Bats: Left • Throws: Left

6-3, 218lb (190cm, 98kg)

Team: Colorado Rockies (minors)

Born: August 30, 1995 (Age: 25-224d) in Centennial, CO us

Draft: Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 32nd round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft from Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO).

High School: Regis Jesuit HS (Aurora, CO)

Schools: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ), Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO)

Full Name: Reagan John Todd

In the summer of 2018, Joel Condreay slashed .355/.438/.532 while playing shortstop at Whitworth University. He threw 2 2/3 innings and managed an ERA of 13.50. In June of that summer, the Rockies drafted him in the 31st round. When he received the call from the scout, he was told he was drafted as a pitcher. His tools are off the chart.

He's worked tirelessly from that moment on to reshape himself into a professional pitcher capable of earning a spot on the 25 man roster. We talk about the challenges he has faced and how he has progressed over the last 2 1/2 years.

Back of the Baseball Card:

- Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 31st round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft.

- School: Whitworth University (Spokane, WA)

- Spent 2018 and 2019 in Boise (53.1 IP, 3.71 ERA, 47 K's, 1.331 WHIP)

Twitter:

@JCondreay

Instagram:

@j_condreay

Cordell Greene grew up in Washington state. He eventually made his way to Indiana State's roster (he shares a really cool Larry Bird story on the podcast), then to Des Moines Area Community College and finally Washington University in 2011. A lot has happened from 2011 to now and that's what this episode is about. Cordell is extremely open and raw on this episode. Cordell hasn't played affiliated ball. In fact he has spent the bulk of that time between '11 and now training baseball players from Little League to MLB.

He owns a gym in Kirkland, Washington. You can see what he has going on by checking out his Instagram page @thenaturalballplayer. At 30 years old he's putting everything he's got into a comeback. He's a few tenths away from hitting triple digits on the radar gun and hopefully only a few weeks away from signing with an affiliate.

Max Bain was a lightly recruited High School pitcher that landed at Northwoods University in Midland, MI. After four solid years, he failed to land with an affiliated club. A lot of players would have quit. Max Bain is not like a lot of players. He rededicated himself to fitness, nutrition and pitching. He shares his incredible story with us here.

Baseball Reference Essentials:

Positions: Relief Pitcher and Centerfielder

Bats: Right • Throws: Right

6-5, 240lb (196cm, 108kg)

Team: Chicago Cubs (minors)

Born: September 25, 1997 (Age: 23-170d) in Clarkston, MI us

School: Northwood University (Midland, MI)

Full Name: Maxwell Aaron Bain

Social Media:

Twitter - @mbain_38

IG - maxbain38

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFXwSwmeH9I (check out his vlog)

Justin Topa was a free agent on the heals of a rough 2018 in the Texas Rangers organization. Options weren't plentiful. That all changed one afternoon while throwing live BP to a few Harvard freshman. After blowing up a radar gun the coaches decided to film the session. After posting the video on Twitter the Milwaukee Brewers picked up the phone. Fast forward to September 1st, 2020 and Justin found himself on the mound in Miller Park throwing for the Beer Makers. His east to west slide and filthy two seamer flummoxed MLB batters all the way into October.

We sat down with Justin to chronicle his journey.

Baseball Reference Data:

Position: Pitcher

Bats: Right • Throws: Right

6-4, 200lb (193cm, 90kg)

Team: Milwaukee Brewers (majors)

Born: March 7, 1991 (Age: 30-000d, Happy Birthday!) in Binghamton, NY us

Draft: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 33rd round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus (Brooklyn, NY) and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus (Brooklyn, NY).

High School: Chenango Valley HS (Binghamton, NY)

School: Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus (Brooklyn, NY)

Debut: September 1, 2020 (Age 29-178d, 19,847th in MLB history)

Rookie Status: Still Intact through 2021

2021 Contract Status: Pre-Arb Eligible

Service Time (01/2021): 0.050 • Arb Eligible: 2024 • Free Agent: 2027

Full Name: Justin Robert Topa

Twitter: @Justin_Topa

This week we sat down with Top 30 KC Royals prospect Noah Murdock. Noah was drafted in the 7th round of the 2019 draft and is spending his first Spring Training Pitching in Big League camp.

The 6'8 hurler proves that pitchers are athletes. In his senior year of high school (2016) he was the Virginia Volleyball player of the year, and led them to a state championship. After dominating the court and diamond at Colonial Heights High, he took his talents to Charlottesville where he pitched for the University of Virginia.

Noah's fiancé is a softball coach. She helped him through quarantine by catching his bullpens. She's even given him advice on pitching...you'll have to listen to hear about it.

Noah Murdock social media accounts:

Twitter - @NoahMurdock28

Instagram - noahmurdock28

Baseball Reference Essentials:

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-8, 190lb (203cm, 86kg)

Born: August 20, 1998 (Age: 22-184d) in Richmond, VA us

Draft: Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 38th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from Colonial Heights HS (Colonial Heights, VA) and the Kansas City Royals in the 7th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA).

High School: Colonial Heights HS (Colonial Heights, VA)

School: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)

The former Michigan State Spartan was chosen in the 12th round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mitchell grew up in Michigan where hockey and cabin life reign supreme, and we spent a good chunk of time covering those two topics. We even learned about Detroit style pizza.

What struck us during the interview was learning how close the Dodgers 2019 draft class had become. The entire class is vying for only a few spots on the MLB roster, yet Mitchell goes in to great detail the lengths these guys go for each other on and off the field.

Twitter

@mitchtyranski

Baseball Reference

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=tyrans000mit

Sportscenter Top 10 Play

https://twitter.com/BroRiceWarriors/status/999624757153878022?s=20

Often times we think professional baseball players walk a road paved with gold. This certainly hasn't been the case for Brendan Cellucci. In this episode we talk about scary health situations, personal mistakes and how he has worked very hard to overcome. Brendan now uses his struggles to help others. Follow him on social media:

Twitter - @brendan_mike27

IG - brendan_cellucci & lettersbylucci

Baseball Reference Page:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=celluc000bre